Weighing apparatus



No. 772,446. PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904.

- T. R. WEYANT.

WEIGHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. so, 1903.

NO MODEL. V v 2 SHEETB-BHEET 1.

WITNESSES: 5 E g 1 INVENTORJ )ZurflaM X M M ATTORNEY PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904.

T. R. WEYANT.

WEIGHING APPARATUS. I APPLICATION FILED 5313130, 1903.

-2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented October 18, 190

PATENT OFFICE.

1 WEIGHING. APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 772,446, dated October 18, 1904.

Application filed September 30, 1903. Serial No. 175,142- (No model.) i

T 0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS HOMER WEY- ANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Veighing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to weighing, measuring, distributing, and allied apparatus; and it has for its object to provide improved apparatus of this character which will be superior in point of accuracy and sensitiveness in operation, simplicity in construction,durability, and general eflficiency.- I

The invention has for its particular object to provide improved apparatus of this character particularly adapted for weighing, distributing, or measuring grain, coffee, sugar, and other food commodities, as well as other commoditiesand materials of such form as to be capable of maintaining a free flow or continuous feed. either with or without independent agitation.

According to the present invention the stream or downflowing mass of the commodity or material to be weighed, measured, or distributed is e-fl'ected or directed by a commodity-feed member through the instrumentality of suitably-controlled electromagnetic means. Said commodity-feed member is preferably provided with a valve or movable deflector which is successively moved in alternately opposite or varying directions to direct or deflect the downflowing commodity to various points of distribution or into various receptacles;

The apparatus is particularly serviceable and eflicient for the packing of commodities in predetermined weights or measures.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation, partly in vertical section, of apparatus embodying the invention; and Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the commodityfeed member of the apparatus and the electromagnetically-controlled valve or deflector associated therewith and looking in the direction opposite to that in Fig. 1.

Referring with particularity to the drawings, A designates the commodity-feed member of apparatus embodying the present invention. B designates the valve or deflector associated therewith.

C designates electromagnetic means wherecircuit making and breaking members E' and E is electrically connected. The weighing, distributing, or measuring means D. embody a movable member D or, as illustrated in the drawings, two such separate or independent movable members D and D, respectively, each of which latter is associated with and controls in its movement, under'the actuation of the load of the weighing, distributing, or measuring means D, one of the circuit making and breaking members E and E In the preferred form of construction the commodity-feed member Aconsists of ahop'per 1,in which the commodity to be Weighed,-,measured, or distributed is directly received, two

delivery-chutes 2 and 3, respectively, which are disposed beneath said hopper l and communicate with the same through a valve or deflector chamber 4 and the valve or deflector B, which is arranged in said chamber 4;. The valve or deflector B consists of an upright,

vane 5, which is pivotally supported within the chamber 4C at the bottom portion of the same, as at 6, so as to be free to oscillate ina vertical plane. The vane 5 is so proportioned and mounted that when oscillated laterally in either direction to the extent permitted by the limitations of the chamber 4 one of the delivery-chutes 2 and 3 is entirely out off from communication with the hopper 1, and direct communication through the chamber 4 is established between the hopper 1 and the other delivery-chute 2 or 3, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The continued oscillation of the vane 5 first to one side of the chamber 4 and then to the other thus causes the alternate communication ofthe delivery-chutes 2 and 3 with thehopper 1, and if the hopper 1 present illustration one of the cartons F is provided for each of the movable members D and D of the weighing,distributing, or measuring means I), and the continued oscillation of the vane 5 to alternately establish and cut ofi communication of the deliverychutes 2 and 3 with the hopper 1 causes the alternate supply or deposit of the commodity flowing downwardly from the hopper l alternately to or into cartons F, supported upon or connected with the respective movable members D and D of the weighing,distributing, or measuring means D.

The electromagnets or members C and C of the electromagnetic means C may be supported or mounted upon a casing 7,-within which are included the valve or deflector chamber 4 and the delivery-chutes 2 and 3 andat opposite sides of the same, such support being by means of suitable brackets 8, said electromagnets C and C being arranged in spaced and opposed relation and projecting across one face of the casing 7. Between the electromagnets C and C is disposed an armature or magnetically-actuated member C, which is connected with the vane 5, constitutingthe valve or deflector B. Said member C is arranged exteriorly of the casing 7 and connected with the vane 5 at the outer end of a shaft 9, which projects exteriorly of the casing 7, and to which shaft 9 the vane 5 is fixed at the pivotal support of said vane 5 at 6. The member C? is preferably arranged parallel to the vane 5,so that any oscillation of the member O causes an exactly corresponding oscillation of the vane 5 within the chamber 4'. The upper or free end of the member C" is provided with an enlarged contact-head 10, which in the operation of the apparatus is alternately engaged with the projecting cores 11 and 12, respectively, of the electromagnets C and C when the latter are energized. A tension device G is provided for assisting the electromagnets C and G" in their actuation of the member such tension device G consisting of a coiled spring 13, which is connected intermediate of its ends with the member C as at 14, and is connected at its tautened ends,

as at 15 and 16, with suitable tension-adjusting devices 17, which are respectively connected with the brackets 8, and wherebythe efiiciency of the tension member G may be regulated.

The circuit making and breaking members E and E are wired, respectively, in connection with the electromagnets C and C and with a suitable electrical source or supply H. Each of the circuit making and breaking members E and E embodies a circuit member 18, pivotally supported intermediate of its ends, as at 19, one end, 18*, of each circuit member 18 being disposed for engagement by the respec* tive movable member D or D of the weighing, distributing, or measuring means D and the other end,'18 of each circuit member 18 being arranged for direct contact with a contact-piece 20. From the circuit member 18 of the circuit making and breaking member E to the electrical supply H extends a linewire 21, thence to the electromagnet C extends a line-wire 22, and thence to the contact-piece20 of the circuit making and breaka ing member E extends a line-wire 23. From the circuit member 18 of the circuit making and breaking member E" to the electrical supply H extends a line-wire 24:, thence to the electromagnet C extends a line-wire 25', and thence to the contact-piece 20 of the circuit -making and breaking member E extends a line-wire 26.

Each of the circuit members 18 is so proportioned or so weighted between its point of pivotal support 19 and its end portion 18", as at 27, that its said end portion 18 is normally spaced from and out of contact with the respective contact-piece 20, so that normally an open circuit is maintained through each of the circuit members 18, the electrical supply H, and the respective electromagnet U or C; but if the respective movable member D or D" of the weighing, distributing, or measuring means D is so moved as to oscillate either of the circuitmembers 18 and bring its end portion .18 into contact with the respective contact-piece,20 a closed electrical circuit is established through the respective circuit member 18, the electrical supply .H, and the respective electromagnet C or C.

The circuit making and breaking members E and E are preferably arranged beneath a table or other support 28, upon which the weighing, distributing, or measuring means D are mounted, and according to the present I illustration said movable members D and D of said weighing, distributing, or measuring means D consist of ordinary beambalances,the movable member D being provided at one end with a weight-rest 29 and at the other end with a pan 30, and the movable member D being similarly provided at one end with a weightrest 31 and at the other end witha pan 32.

In using the apparatus the cartons or receptacles F are placedv upon the pans 30 and 32, and beneath the weight-rests 29 and 31, respectively, project arms 33 and 34:, respectively, which arms 33 and 3 k extend through openings 35 and 36 in the table or support 28 into position for engagement with the respective end portions 18 of the respective circuit members 18 of the respective circuit making and breaking members E and E. The circuit members 18 are pivotally mounted at 19 for oscillation in a vertical plane. It will thus be seen that if either of the weight-rests 29 and 31 be provided with aweight, such as 37, sufficient to counteract that of the respective pan or 32 or the load thereon the respective arm 33 and 34 will depress the end portion 18 of the respective circuit member 18 and elevate the end portion 18" of the respective circuit mem ber 18 so as to bring the same into contact with the respective contact-piece 20 and close an electrical circuit through the electrical supply H and the respective electromagnet C or C It will be noted that when either of the pans 30 or 32 is receiving its load from its respective delivery-chute 2 or 3, the delivery-chute 2 being arranged above the pan 30 and the delivery-ch ute 3 being arranged above the pan 32, the respective circuit making and breaking. member F or E maintains a closed circuit through the electromagnet C or C which affects the member C" connected with the valve or deflector B so as to maintain the respective and proper delivery-chute 2 or 3 in communication with the hopper 1, but that the moment that a predetermined load has been received by the pan 30 or the pan 32 the latter is depressed and the respective weightrest 29 or 31 rises, permitting the end portion 18 of the respective circuit member 18 of the respective circuit making and breaking member F7 or E to fall and open the electrical circuit through the previously-energized electromagnet C or C If the load has been removed from the other pan 30 or 32, the corsponding weight-rest 29 or 31 will have descended and the respective end portion 18 of the respective circuit member 18 of the respective circuit making and breaking member E or E will have been raised into con tact with the respective contact-piece 20, and a closed electrical circuit will have been es tablished through the respective electromagnet 0 or C so that the magnetically-freed member C will at once, with the aid of the tension device G, be oscillated with the valve or deflector B into position to cause the communication of the respective delivery-chute 2 or 3 with the hopper 1. Thus the moment that one of the pans 30 and 32 has received the load predetermined by the weight 37 the supply of commodity from the respective delivery-chute 2 or 3 is immediately cutoff and transferred to the other pan 30 or 32.

The movable members D and D of the specific weighing, distributing, or measuring means D illustrated and constituting each a beam-scale may be pivotally supported each between its ends, as at 38, in any preferred manner, and the beam-scales so constituted may be of any preferred type.

While the movable members D and D are each separate from and independent of the other in their mechanical definition, they are of the complete apparatus in that in their varying operative positions they both control and determine the direction of flow of the commodity from the commodity-feed member A, each to direct the latter to the pan 30 or 32 of the other.

The operation and advantages of the described apparatus embodying the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings.

In practice of the invention in the operation of the specific apparatus herein described the commodity or material to be weighed is supplied to the hopper 1 in any convenient mannerrand thence passes by gravity alternately to the delivery-chutes 2 and 3 and thence to the pans 30 and 32 or the cartons F, placed thereon. In starting the apparatus in operation both of the pans 30 and 32 occupy elevated positions, such as that of the pan 30 in the drawings, and a closed circuit is thus established through each of the electromagnets C and C. If it is desired to have the commodity first flow through the delivery-chute 2 into the carton F upon the pan 30, the member 0, constituting the movable armature for the two electromagnets C and C ,'is' manually brought into' contact with the projecting core 12 of the electromagnet C When the carton F has received a load predetermined by the weight 37 on the weight-rest 29, the pan 30 at once falls, the weight-rest 29 rises, together with the arm 33, and the circuit member 18 of the circuit making and breaking member E oscillates so as to break the circuit through the electromagnet C. A closed circuit being in existence through the electromagnet O, the tension device G, together with the electromagnet C oscillates the member C into contact with the projecting core 11 of the electromagnet C and causes the valve or deflector B to occupy a position in which the commodity flowing from the hopper 1 is directed through the deliverychute 3 to the carton F on the pan32. As soon as the loaded carton F upon the pan 30 is removed the pan 30 rises and the circuit making and breaking member E assumes the position shown in the drawings, whereby a closed circuit is established through the electromagnet C which causes the oscillation of in the drawings, which position accompanies an open circuit through the electromagnet C.

It will be noted that when the valve or deflector B has been oscillated into its operative position the impact of the commodity passing over the same assists in maintaining said valve or deflector in its operative position assumed.

It is manifest that the points of deposit to which and the apparatus upon or into which the commodity is conducted alternately by the delivery-chutes 2 and 3 may be of any desired arrangement, form, or character, providing means mechanically equivalent to the movable members D and D are provided for members, such as E and E', are embodied in and automatically actuated by the weighing, distributing, or measuring apparatus to which the commodity is conducted or supplied by the delivery-chutes 2 and 3. It is also manifest that'the form of the valve or deflector B and the number and relative arrangement of I the delivery-chutes 2 and 3 may be varied ac"- cording to obtaining conditions and the requirments of any particular class of service. Finally, I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to any of the specific features of construction and relative arrangement of parts herein described and illustrated, but reserve the right to vary the same in adapting my improvements to varying conditions of use and classes of service without departing from the spirit of the invention or terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Apparatus of the character described,

comprising a commodity-feedmember, a plu-.

rality of independent movable members, and

electromagnetic meansv controlling said com' modity-feed member to effect the flow of the commodity, said electromagnetic means being controlled by said movable members.

2. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a commodity-feed member, a plurality of independent movable members, and

separate electromagnetic means controlling said commodity-feed member to effect the flow of the commodity and controlled each by one of said movable members.

3. In apparatus of the character described, acommodity-feed member provided with a deflector for directing the flow of the commodity, a plurality of movable members, a plurality of electromagnets controlling said valve, and a plurality of circuit making and breaking members controlling the energization of said electromagnets and controlled respectively by said movable members.

i. In apparatus of the character described, a commodity-feed member embodying a plurality of delivery-chutes and provided with a deflector disposed inposition for directing the livery-chutes and provided with a deflector for directing the flow of the commodity alternately to said delivery-chutes, two movable members, two electromagnets controlling said deflector, and two circuit making and breaking members controlling the energization of the electromagnets and controlled respectively by said movable members.

7. In apparatus of the character described, a commodity-feed member embodying two delivery-chutes and provided "with a deflector for directing the How of the commodity alternately to the said delivery-chutes, two electromagnets controlling said deflector, and two circuit making and breaking members controlling respectively the energization of said electromagnets.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a commodity-feed member embodying tWo-de-' livery-chutes and provided with a deflector for directing the flow of the commodity alter- :nately to said delivery-chutes, weighing means embodying two movablemembers each of which is provided with a pan arranged beneath one of said delivery-chutes, two electromagnets controlling said deflector, and two G1IGllli3 making and breaking members controlling respectively the energization of said electromagnets and actuated respectively by the movements of said movable members.

9. In apparatus of the character described, a commodity-feed member embodying two delivery-chutes and provided with a deflector for directing the flow of the commodity alternately to said delivery-chutes, weighing means embodying two movable membersdisposed respectively beneath said deliverychutesand electromagnetic means controlled in their energization by said movable members, and whereby said deflector is caused to direct the flow of the commodity alternately to said delivery-chutes.

10; In. apparatus of the character described, a commodity-feed member embodying a plurality of delivery-chutes and provided with a deflector for directing the flow of the commodity to said delivery-chutes, a plurality of electromagnets controlling said deflector, and a plurality of circuit making and breaking.

members controlling respectively the energization of said electromagnets.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a commodity-feed member embodying a plurality of delivery-chutes and provided With a deflector disposed in position for directing the flow of the commodity to said delivery-chutes, a plurality of movable members, and separate electromagnetic means controlling said deflector and directly controlled each by one of the said movable members.

12. In apparatus of the character described, a commodity-feed member embodying a plurality of delivery-chutes and provided with a deflector disposed in position for directing the floW of the commodity to said delivery-chutes, a plurality of movable members, and separate electromagnetic means directly actuating said deflector and directly controlled each by one of said movable members.

13. Apparatus of the character described,

THOMAS HOMER WEYANT.

Witnesses:

MICHAEL TERNAPELO, WALTER J. FAY. 

